wonwinglo

W.E.W 'Teddy' Petter was responsible for designing some of the finest innovative aircraft in the United Kingdom,the list of designs included the Westland Lysander army co-operation and spy dropper,Westland Whirlwind twin engined fighter,Westland Welkin,English Electric Canberra,English Electric Lightning,Folland Midge and the Folland Gnat trainer/fighter.
In 1950 he joined the Folland aircraft company based at Hamble as the managing director where he designed the revolutionery Midge aircraft which was later re-designed as the Gnat aircraft which flew with the 'Red Arrows' display team.
Hamble airfield closed in 1986 and the Folland company was acquired by Hawker Siddeley aviation later absorbed into British aerospace.
Petter was responsible for designing such a wide variety of fine aircraft.
He became so dis-illusioned with aviation and the story goes that he opted to became a monk.

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'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !'
www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/

crashgate4

Barry, according to Harald Penrose's autobiography "Adventure with fate" (Airlife 1984) , disillusioned with BAC absorbing so many smaller aircraft firms "Teddy" Petter went to live in Lausanne, Switzerland, in fact to nurse his wife who had Parkinson's disease. Although he lived as a recluse a life of prayer, he died 7 years before his wife.

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I seem to be suffering from amnesia and deja vu.....I think I've forgotten this already...

wonwinglo

*** Trevor what you have said here fits the story that was related by Douglas Bader, on one of those aeroplane sound records,what a sad ending to a brilliant designer.
Yes such wonderful companies just swallowed up and just went into oblivion with the setting up of a British monopoly,no longer were individual names of designers very important as long as shareholders got their rewards.
When you look at the Lysander you realise what a revelation it was in design philosophy,those unique wings that worked so well in their role,coupled with Handley Page high lift devices.Then we have the tiny Gnat which set new standards in miniature fighters for performance,he deserves our hall of fame where he will be remembered always.It is a special place for special people.

__________________
'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !'
www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/